How’d you do courageous mama? Crushed it I bet! Look, labor’s hard. Labor hurts, but years later I can’t seem to remember the details of the pain from that moment.. What I do vividly remember is my teenie, beautiful, perfect squeaking baby being laid on my chest. Sure the hospital tells you the benefits of skin to skin and makes it all clinical, but listen, that magical moment of holding the baby that you’ve cooked up for 10 months and who kicked the ever living shit out of you time and time again, is finally here. Sit back and revel in that! You freakin’ made a person! Go you!
Truth time: The hospital sucks… Yes, there are nurses and doctors to take care of your medical needs and that of your child, but the hospital stay is the perfect sampling of what your life will be like for at least the next three months.. Don’t look at it like, oooh, I’m in the hospital to get started off right with my baby. No, look at it like, let me just put a revolving door in my room to better facilitate my lack of privacy, poking, prodding, questions, evaluations and overall exhaustion.. Oh and take the baby to the nursery? How bout no, “rooming in” is the new thing for moms and babies.. Very nice to feel even more overwhelmed, tired and defeated while you just got your ass kicked from your little monster angel trying to get into the world. My summary? The hospital despite it’s good intentions doesn’t necessarily set you up for success to slay the idea of being a newborn mama.. It has a way of crawling into your head and making you feel deep down in your soul, like you can’t do this… But trust me, YOU CAN! Little blip on the screen until you figure out your flow and it’ll be all good.. Promise.